Cheltenham Festival in mind for Endless Escape

Molly Hunter
March 2, 2023 10:19 am

Ben Clarke’s charge could tackles Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Cheltenham is on the horizon for Ben Clarke’s unbeaten hurdler Endless Escape.

The seven-year-old placed in an Irish point-to-point before joining Clarke’s yard and making a winning hurdles debut at Lingfield in November.

That victory was followed by a 22-length success at Wincanton on Boxing Day and then a Ffos Las win in late January sealed the hat-trick.

As a result the daughter of Getaway was the 8-11 favourite at Newcastle on Saturday and her winning streak continued when she landed the Break From The Herd With Vertem Novices’ Hurdle under Ben Jones by three and a quarter lengths.

“She’s been great, she was odds-on at Newcastle the other day and people may have expected her to do it a bit easier but I was very happy and Ben Jones was very happy,” Clarke said.

Getaway Mare Completes Impressive Four Timer.A step up in class is on the cards for Endless Escape (7m Getaway – Endless Wave, by… https://t.co/yZFveCgkOW pic.twitter.com/QM3EO04YH9

— Coolmore (@coolmorestud) February 26, 2023

“She hated that ground, it was very tacky, and she’s never a horse that’s going to go and offer it up and win by 30 lengths. She’s a horse that’ll only do as much as she has to do.

“We were very happy, Ben said she just needed a little bit of company out in front.”

Endless Escape is entered for the Grade Two Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is likely to take her chance if the conditions at Prestbury Park prove suitable.

Clarke said: “We’re going to look at Cheltenham and if we get a bit of dig in the ground, we’ll go.

“I think she deserves a crack at something nice now, if she doesn’t go there then we’d perhaps look at Kelso or Fairyhouse later in the month.”

RACE 2 RESULT: Break From The Herd With Vertem Novices’ Hurdle
🥇 Endless Escape🥈 Leading Force 🥉 City Roller
A Win for Ben Clarke and @BenJone04644251 #HorseRacing #Results pic.twitter.com/f3gx5mh4QG
— Newcastle Racecourse (@NewcastleRaces) February 25, 2023

Either way, the mare has more than paid her way so far as she was a bargain purchase via the online sales site ThoroughBid, through which she was bought for just GBP 6,500 in June.

“We bought her through ThoroughBid for GBP 6,500 and she’s progressed and progressed,” said Clarke.

“She’s very straightforward at home, we don’t do an awful lot with her, just tick her along and keep her happy.

“I say to the owners that she spends most of her life asleep but the rare moments when she’s awake she really does deliver on the racetrack, so we don’t mind.

“I wouldn’t mind a few more, especially at that price!”